Schedules
If mornings feel like a battle, you're not alone. A simple schedule can change everything.
Every guide in The IEP for Home library has the same simple structure: one big goal, & a handful of small objectives. Stack the objectives, you reach the goal. Stack the goals, you raise a thriving child.
T H E S T R U C T U R EGOAL VS OBJECTIVE
What is a goal?
A goal is the big picture you are working toward. For this guide, the goal is to have a daily schedule that helps your child feel safe, calm, & ready to learn.
What is an objective?
Objectives are the smaller steps that get you to that goal. Each objective below covers one part of the schedule, such as sleep, meals, fun time, or chores.
Y O U R R O A D M A PSeven objectives. One for each part of your child's day. Work through them in order and the goal takes care of itself.
THE OBJECTIVES
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⦿ Pick a wake-up time for your child. if you know how many hours of sleep your child needs, you can pick a bedtime too.
⦿ Use the same times every day. Weekends too, as much as you can.
⦿ Create a short wind-down routine before bed. For example: bath, book, lights out.
⦿ Put the schedule where your child can see it. The fridge or bedroom door works well.
Did You Know?
When your child sleeps at the same time every day, they feel better and learn better.
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #1
Schedule Sleeping Times
Set a consistent wake-up time for your child. That’s right, start with the wake up time. After you’ve figured out how many hours of sleep your child needs, you can schedule the bedtime. Consistent sleep helps your child's body and mind work at their best. Keep the wake up time and the bedtime consistent.
Erik’s Choice ★
For objective #1
Start With Sleep: Before anything else, set a wake up time and stick to it. It will be easier to figure out the bedtime if you focus on the wake up time first. Consistent sleeping from one. night to the next is the single most powerful change a family can make. When sleep is solid, everything else follows. The meals, the routines, the hard moments. They all get easier.
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⦿ Finish your tasks before asking for play time.
⦿ Check the clock to see when fun time starts and ends. You’ll need an analogue clock to do this right. You child needs to know when the next event is coming up, and will need an analogue clock to figure that out.
⦿ Choose one big treat to look forward to each week.
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⦿ Write in the fun times on the schedule so your child can see them. The schedule has to have fun activities in it, not just tasks and chores.
⦿ Want to control screen time? Start reducing screen time gradually — by 15 minutes at a time. Or, create some screen-free time zones each day- especially before bed.
⦿ Surprise your child with a bonus privilege once they have mastered the routine.
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⦿ Choose a set time for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any snacks.
⦿ Eat together as a family whenever possible; it makes meals feel like a safe routine. It’s a great way to connect with your child.
⦿ Avoid letting your child eat at random times. Snacking during the day means that your child will not be hungry at meal time. If they eat too many snacks, they won’t sit as long for meals, or eat nutritious food.
Did You Know?
Regular mealtimes help the body release hormones on schedule, keeping your child steady and focused.
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #2
Schedule Eating Times
Set regular times for meals and snacks each day. When your child eats at the same times, their body knows when to expect food — which helps their mood, focus, and energy.
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⦿ Sit down for meals at the scheduled time.
⦿ Try not to skip meals or ask for food outside meal times. if you want, you can schedule one or two snacks. They should be small.
⦿ Help set the table as part of the mealtime routine.
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⦿ Write meal times on the family schedule.
⦿ Read the Eating Guide for detailed guidance.
⦿ Try to eat together as a family at least once a day.
Erik’s Choice ★
For objective #2
Why Mealtimes Matter: When kids eat at the same time each day, their bodies know exactly when to expect food. It becomes a time to sit, reflect, connect. That one small change leads to fewer meltdowns, better focus, and a calmer home overall. It really is that simple
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⦿ List the fun activities your child loves — toys, games, TV, outings, special treats.
⦿ Decide when fun time starts and how long it lasts, and write it on the schedule.
⦿ Fun time comes after routines and tasks are finished. Example: First homework, then play.
⦿ Limit entertainment screen time to less than 2 hours per day. Learning apps and video calls do not count toward this limit.
⦿ Schedule big treats (cinema, pizza night, a new toy) once a week or less.
Did You Know?
Children can still get some free play even if tasks are not fully done. Play is important for growth. Make sure your child has some play time every day.
Types of Play
Time to play alone
Time with other children
Games & activities together
With a clear time limit
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #3
Schedule Fun Time & Privileges
Plan time every day for activities your child enjoys. Knowing fun is coming helps children get through hard tasks with less fuss.
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⦿ Wake up at the same time each morning.
⦿ Go to bed at the same time every night.
⦿ Follow the wind-down routine: bath, book, lights out.
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⦿ Set a firm, consistent bedtime tonight.
⦿ Read the Sleeping Guide for extra tips.
⦿ Model the routine — try to go to bed at a regular time yourself.
Erik’s Choice ★
For objective #3
Keep it fresh: Once your child has the routine down, add a small surprise every now and then. An extra treat, a spontaneous outing, or a fun change to the usual plan keeps things exciting and gives your child something to look forward to.
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⦿ Morning routine: toileting, washing, dressing, tidying personal belongings.
⦿ Evening routine: homework, clean-up after dinner, preparing for the next day.
⦿ Some chores happen every day (homework, tidying up). Others happen once a week (cleaning the bedroom).⦿ Use a simple calendar or visual chart so your child can see when each task is due.
When your child is first learning about routines and chores, do them together. It’s a great way to have some instant connection time. After a while, you can ask your child to. dotheir routines and chores. ontheir own
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Tasks get done: The same time every day means fewer arguments. Push through your stumbling blocks here. Your kids will try to resist you, but it’s important for them to keep to the schedule. To make it easier, start out by only scheduling a small task or chore, but keep it on the schedule. Then, build up from there. Keeping things by the clock has a lot of benefits:
Punctuality: children learn to be on time for school- and for other events.
Tasks feel shorter: knowing when the task is finished helps children push through.
First-Then rule : Following the schedule teaches first-then: First the chore, then the fun thing.
Sequencing: The schedule teachers children about sequencing: 1- 2- 3- done.
Smoother transitions: The schedule makes it easier to complete transitions- such as stopping a fun activity and moving to a more boring activity.
Advance notice The schedule gives your child automatic advance notice- they know in advance when a fun activity stops, and can accept the transition more easily. That means fewer upsets!
Teamwork: building the schedule together with your child teaches collaborative problem solving. If the schedule is not working out, you can make changes with your child’s input. But, don’t make changes too soon. You and your child have to get used to the schedule before it will make sense to change the schedule.
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #4
Schedule Routines & Chores
Build regular times for personal care, chores, and homework into your day. When children know what to expect, even the boring tasks are easier to start.
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⦿ Follow your morning and evening routine without being reminded.
⦿ Check off each task on your chart when it’s done. The parent can do a mini-review by looking at the chart with you. They can ask you: What did you get done so far? What do you still have left to do?
⦿ Tell a parent what comes next on the schedule. Instead of your parents telling you what you still have to do, why don’t you tell them?
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⦿ Make a simple visual chart of daily routines. A visual chatt is easy to make using pictures you get online, or by taking photos of your own child doing their tasks and chores
⦿ Use the First-Then rule: Make sure that the pictures clearly show the sequence: First work, then fun.
⦿ Praise your child every time they complete a routine step.
Erik’s Choice ★
For objective #4
Let Them Lead: Routines work best when your child helps build them. When kids have a say in the order of things, they're more likely to follow through. Ask them what feels right in the morning, after school, or before bed. You may be surprised about their answer.
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⦿Physical support: Stay close and help your child at first (like laying out clothes, or helping with putting toys away) Then do less and less each day.
⦿Verbal support: Stay nearby but use words only. Compliment what they do right before correcting mistakes. Help them to notice what still needs to get done.
⦿Ask, don't tell: Instead of saying 'go brush your teeth,' ask 'What comes next on your schedule?'
⦿Check together: If they forget, look at the schedule together instead of just telling them the answer.
⦿ Step back: Once they can do it alone, leave the room. You can say something like: “I’ll be back in a minute. to help you. You can go ahead and start without me.” Give feedback only once or twice per routine. Make sure you tell your child about what they’ve done successfully. After that, you can ask them if they made any mistakes they’d like to correct. Or, you can ask them what tasks they might have forgotten.
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #5
Following the Schedule Alone
Your goal as a is for your child to check and follow the schedule on their own, without being reminded every step of the way.
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⦿ Try to say the schedule out loud without looking at it.
⦿ Move to the next task on your own when one task ends.
⦿ Ask a parent to check your work, not to do it for you.
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⦿ Reduce your reminders by one each week.
⦿ Let your child make small mistakes — then problem-solve together.
⦿ Celebrate every time they check the schedule on their own.
Erik’s Choice ★
For objective #5
One Step at a Time: Independence is built one small step at a time. Objective #4 was about getting tasks done independently. Now you’re going to ask your child to follow the schedule independently.
Every time your child checks the schedule on their own or completes a task without a reminder, that is real progress. Celebrate each step. Your child is learning to manage their own life.
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⦿ Mix up privileges and some tasks occasionally. You can add a new (short) task that was not expected. Or put a fun event into the schedule that was not expected. — this teaches flexibility.
⦿ When you make a change, tell your child about it in advance. Use the clock to show when the unexpected task or activity event will start. Or, choose to make it a surprise. See if your child can manage that level of stress. Use the clock to show them how long the new event will last.
⦿ Schedule 'no schedule' time: ask 'What do you want to do until bedtime?' — this gives your child practice with open, unplanned time.
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⦿ Recite the schedule back to you from memory.
⦿ Complete routines without much supervision.⦿ Follow rules at home and outside the home.
⦿ Manage frustration without much adult help.
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⦿ Try to keep schedules similar in both homes.
⦿ Children can learn two different schedules — it just takes more time.
⦿ Use a visual schedule in both homes, especially if they are different.
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #6
Teach Your Child To Be Flexible
Once your child can follow the schedule, start teaching them to handle changes and surprises without them getting upset.
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⦿ Say what the plan change is out loud: 'Today is different because...'
⦿ Try one 'no schedule' activity and enjoy the free time.
⦿ Practise calming down when something changes unexpectedly.
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⦿ Introduce one small planned change per week.
⦿ Explain changes in advance whenever possible.
Praise your child when they handle a change calmly.
Erik’s Choice ★
For objective #6
Practice Makes Flexible: Flexibility is a skill. Practice it on purpose by planning changes to the schedule. This strategy might be very helpful as seasons change, or when it’s school vacation. When changes to the schedule are familiar, they produce less stress.
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⦿ Only add extra activities after your child has fully mastered the daily schedule.
⦿ Start with one new activity at a time — do not overload the schedule.
⦿ If possible, treat the new activity like any other routine: same day, same time each week.
An over-scheduled child will be as frustrated as an under-scheduled child. Do your best do allow for some down time each day or each week.
⦿ Talk to your child's teacher or therapist when adding new activities — they can offer useful advice.
Conversation Starters For You and Your Child
OBJECTIVE #7
Add Extra-Curricular Activities
Once your child reliably follows their daily schedule, you can add activities like music lessons, a sports team, or an art class to their routine.
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⦿ Go to bed at the same time every night.
⦿ Stay in bed until wake-up time (weekends too).
⦿ Follow the wind-down routine: bath, book, lights out.
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⦿ Set a firm, consistent bedtime tonight.
⦿ Read the Sleeping Guide for extra tips.
⦿ Model the routine — try to go to bed at a regular time yourself.
Erik’s Choice ★
For objective #7
Extras Come Last: Extra activities are a bonus, not a must. Only add them when the basics are solid and your child is coping well with the daily routine. One at a time is enough.
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